Chapter 8: The Truth Beneath the Waves
Chrissy lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind refusing to settle. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the lighthouse. The storm. The woman plunging into the sea. Kyle's words echoed in her head.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWk52G2Cg8
"She didn't just vanish. She jumped. During a hurricane. And never came back."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm4964urFg
Her fingers curled around the necklace at her throat. She had spent her whole life feeling like something was missing. A part of her that she could never quite name. But now, with every new discovery, she felt herself being pulled closer to a truth she wasn't sure she was ready for.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOhDVSfNkn
With a quiet breath, she sat up and pushed back her blankets. Her room was dark, the soft glow of the streetlight outside casting shadows across her floor. She moved quickly, slipping on her jacket and sneakers before easing the window open.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiRCAPZWPc
She had to go back.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhiwzQ6RpF
The cave had called to her once, and she needed to know why.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aO7GwAvtE
As she climbed out the window and into the cool night, she didn't notice the figure sleeping in the car across the street.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhFBPT3odr
Nick had been parked outside her house for hours, arms crossed over his chest, attempting to rest but never quite letting himself fall asleep. He had been on edge ever since the hurricane. Ever since he'd nearly lost her.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWZFJ0Lkpo
When he saw movement from her window, his exhaustion vanished.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Z9ZLh1tLy
His breath caught as Chrissy slipped into the night, her movements careful, purposeful.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX8gX8nZNg
Nick cursed under his breath, grabbing his jacket. Where the hell is she going?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f7fQy4RQd
Without hesitation, he got out of the car and followed.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAR5Le874v
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Chrissy reached the shoreline quickly, the waves crashing gently against the sand. The moon hung low in the sky, its silver light illuminating the water. She didn't stop to think.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWxVQxurva
She stepped into the surf, the cold biting at her skin as she waded in deeper, her breath hitching as the current tugged at her. But she didn't fight it. She let it pull her forward, her body cutting through the water as she swam toward the hidden cave.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXlQ5j32qs
Nick arrived just in time to see her disappear beneath the surface.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTnO6u61Sa
His heart stopped.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp4zPszOxa
"Chrissy—"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbTneZvPLv
Without thinking, he tore off his jacket and ran into the waves.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYyqp3HuNo
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Chrissy surfaced inside the cave, gasping as she pulled herself onto the rocky ledge. Water dripped from her clothes, her breath uneven. The cave felt different this time.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPwavTIZwP
Deeper.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojiV2tn0bt
More alive.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5xqrBjuau
She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the smooth stone beneath her palm. Then, something caught her eye.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBghpIa1ixH
A small, glinting object, half-buried in the rock.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTOlC228a4
She reached out, brushing away the damp sand.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aziT8Z1FE
A gemstone.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrH7oLajSs
A deep blue sapphire, its edges perfectly shaped, like it had been waiting to be found.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOA0ZTayEfc
Her chest tightened as she turned it over in her palm, realization crashing over her like a wave.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jy2K3aFUU
It was the missing piece.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiYdT8kchb
The empty setting in her necklace.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmpn6pzn9B
Before she could process it, she heard movement behind her.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ25oJizbY
She spun just as Nick hauled himself out of the water, breathless and dripping.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zk1Me31SV
"Nick?" Her voice wavered.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykaZvBlGMT
He was soaked, his hair a mess, his eyes burning with frustration. "Are you insane?" he snapped, striding toward her. "You just—just vanished into the ocean! Do you even know what could've happened to you?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErC50uEeZH
Chrissy gaped at him. "I—I needed to come back here."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQWZqOs3RT
"In the middle of the night?" His voice was rising, his hands running through his wet hair in exasperation. "Do you even think about what you put me through? I thought you—" He broke off, shaking his head.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKD9oO194pY
Chrissy clenched her fists. "I had to come back." She held up the sapphire, her voice shaking. "I found this."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHqhxO0Ldo
Nick's anger wavered as he glanced at the gemstone, but his frustration didn't fade. "Chrissy, you almost drowned two days ago. You—"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf0mqotS3o
She wasn't listening.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU2zcLADzM
Her breaths were coming quicker now, her grip on the sapphire tightening. "Nick, I think—I think she was my mother."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTGqoAkWv2
Nick blinked. "What?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXYlaatg8B
"The woman in the lighthouse. The one who disappeared. I think she was my mother. And the lighthouse keeper—" She swallowed hard. "I think he was my father."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF36D5O8JI
Nick's anger vanished. "Chrissy..."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8SFiJQeyD
She took a shaky breath, the words pouring out of her like a flood. "It makes sense, doesn't it? Why else would I be so drawn to this place? Why do I look like her? Why is my necklace connected to all of this?" Her voice cracked. "And what if my adoptive family knew? What if they knew the truth this whole time and never told me?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ytPmvUkuC
Nick's chest tightened as he watched her unravel.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMgBzCfoxN
Her breathing was uneven, her hands trembling. He could see the weight of everything crashing down on her all at once—the questions, the doubt, the fear of what it all meant.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tHPfCj4Z7
She was spiraling.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxv4CE3gVA
"Chrissy."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hYSqCUpOo
She didn't stop. "I need to know the truth! I need to know why they kept this from me! Why my whole life—"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Nyp3Zhrn
"Chrissy—"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCNYNfUqLW
"I need—"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSWj2NXLOE
He grabbed her face and kissed her.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkguS3ec76y
The cave was silent except for the distant sound of waves as her breath hitched against his.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzHUCH29di
It wasn't a rushed, desperate kiss. It was firm, steady. A grounding force against the storm inside her.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YZOi7Ot8a
Nick felt her stiffen, but then—slowly—she melted into him. Her hands clenched the front of his damp shirt as she let herself fall into the moment, into him.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbNP4MzZFN
When they finally pulled apart, her lips parted in a shaky breath.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcp662WiYx
Nick rested his forehead against hers, his hands still cradling her face. "I need you to breathe, okay?" His voice was soft now. Steady. "Just breathe."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLTcTt1H9F
Her eyes fluttered shut as she tried to catch up with her own thoughts.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczGTnL4vmg
Her heart was pounding.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStqVNnZElR
Nick's thumb brushed her cheek before he pulled back slightly, searching her face.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4NRQfTVOo
Chrissy swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you—Did you do that just to shut me up?"44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3VNOS3LMW
Nick exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "No."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYokHRtkiY8
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The walk home was a blur. Neither of them spoke.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHkK4lO4FS
When they got back to her room, she hesitated before pulling the necklace over her head, holding it in her palm.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4YMXGscGx
Nick sat at her desk, watching quietly as she gently pressed the sapphire into the empty setting.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHLSER3ACn
The moment it clicked into place—44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJHg9TV3So
A bright, silvery light burst from the necklace, flooding the room in a warm glow.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicp6aVz8lW
Chrissy gasped as the light wrapped around her skin, sinking into her like a pulse. Nick flinched, shielding his eyes. Then, just as quickly as it had come, it was gone.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjXwKstvv0
They were left in darkness again, the room silent.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgdgrfzl9F
Nick let out a breath. "Okay. That definitely wasn't normal."44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyk88cpK1v
Chrissy's fingers trembled against the now-cool metal. She looked up at him, her mind racing with a hundred thoughts, but one stood out above the rest.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVDS3VY5Av
Did he kiss me because he wanted to... or just to quiet me down?44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL5RmvtYNM
Nick didn't say anything.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡme9swhUsIV
And she didn't ask.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Onv5vnkLk
But as she lay awake that night, the sapphire warm against her chest, she knew one thing for sure.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJtP1dwiN7
Something had changed.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOIG2APbgT
And there was no going back now.44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XmjmNAQUP
